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From Chaos to Creativity
Art and writing can be the most fulfilling part of our lives. But it's often difficult to make space for it in our day-to-day existence, especially if we're not at the point yet where creating it is our job. Sometimes we have so many ideas it’s difficult to keep them all organized, much less maintaining a creative schedule or dedicated workspace. With all the clutter overwhelming your scattered brain (not to mention your desk), it's all too easy to fall into procrastination and disarray. From Chaos to Creativity is a series of glowing beacon. Jessie L. Kwak has written a Getting Things Done for artists and writers, drawing on her experience as a professional copywriter with a novel-writing habit, and from interviews with other authors, artists, musicians, and designers, to teach you how to focus on the good ideas, manage your project, make time in your life, and execute your passions to completion. Make great art by channeling your chaotic creative force into productive power and let the world see what you're capable of!
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2019
24 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 13, 2020
I always feel a mix of compassion and interest in reading the efforts of people to attempt to systematize for fun and profit those things which tend to be highly individualistic and idiosyncratic in nature. There are many ways that one can be productive and creative, and while there are a few principles that are generally applicable, the specifics and details of how one creates best does depend widely on the individual temperament and personality and approach of the given creator. And the author herself, a fellow Portland writer, acknowledges this, which is all to the better. And although productivity is in the title, this is not a book so much about productivity as it is seeking to avoid those behaviors that sap one's creativity and therefore encouraging one's native creativity to break forth into life. This is something I can endorse, not least because the author values reflection as much as creation, and views creativity as part of the overall life of the creator rather than being something that takes over and swallows the creator, as can often be the case when one's life gets dangerously out of balance.
This book is a bit less than 200 pages long and is divided into various unnumbered chapters. The book begins by discussing that it is not about productivity at all but rather about taming chaos and encouraging creativity (1). After that the author discusses how this book is organized and how it is to be used by the reader (2). This leads to the first big section of the book on planning (I), which contains discussion on gathering one's tools (3), capturing the chaos (4), identifying one's priorities (5), organizing projects and tasks (6), and scheduling one's tasks (7), and repeating the process when one is done. After that the author focuses on working (II), with chapters on understanding our time and energy (8), managing a sustainable workload (9), designing one's work day (10), working around life (11), dealing with shadow work and willpower (12), getting ahead of distractions (13), and beating procrastination (14). After that there is a discussion of dreaming (III), including how to play (15) and taking time for reflection (16). Finally, the book closes with various tests (IV) including one's creative schedule, how to collect incoming tasks, and understanding one's goals, obligations, network, reward system, and passion, with the goal of taking action.
Overall, this book does reflect the thinking of someone who has not only done a fair bit of creating herself but has also thought about her craft and wishes to provide others with some targeted encouragement. In knowing herself and her own struggles and pitfalls to create, she provides plenty of worthwhile insight in how people can create better in such a way that it is part of an overall good life. And, like any practical book of this nature, this book is aimed at encouraging action on the part of the reader and not only the shadow work that comes with reading what one already knows in lieu of acting on said knowledge and putting it into practice. It is easy to recognize those things that sap our productivity and that lead us doing things that end up taking up a lot of time but which have no particular use or worth in the end. The author brings these to light, no doubt from having dealt with her own distractions and struggles, and encourages others to do the same as well. By and large this is a pleasing book that is easy to enjoy and to recommend and that recognizes the variety of ways that people can create better.
This book is a bit less than 200 pages long and is divided into various unnumbered chapters. The book begins by discussing that it is not about productivity at all but rather about taming chaos and encouraging creativity (1). After that the author discusses how this book is organized and how it is to be used by the reader (2). This leads to the first big section of the book on planning (I), which contains discussion on gathering one's tools (3), capturing the chaos (4), identifying one's priorities (5), organizing projects and tasks (6), and scheduling one's tasks (7), and repeating the process when one is done. After that the author focuses on working (II), with chapters on understanding our time and energy (8), managing a sustainable workload (9), designing one's work day (10), working around life (11), dealing with shadow work and willpower (12), getting ahead of distractions (13), and beating procrastination (14). After that there is a discussion of dreaming (III), including how to play (15) and taking time for reflection (16). Finally, the book closes with various tests (IV) including one's creative schedule, how to collect incoming tasks, and understanding one's goals, obligations, network, reward system, and passion, with the goal of taking action.
Overall, this book does reflect the thinking of someone who has not only done a fair bit of creating herself but has also thought about her craft and wishes to provide others with some targeted encouragement. In knowing herself and her own struggles and pitfalls to create, she provides plenty of worthwhile insight in how people can create better in such a way that it is part of an overall good life. And, like any practical book of this nature, this book is aimed at encouraging action on the part of the reader and not only the shadow work that comes with reading what one already knows in lieu of acting on said knowledge and putting it into practice. It is easy to recognize those things that sap our productivity and that lead us doing things that end up taking up a lot of time but which have no particular use or worth in the end. The author brings these to light, no doubt from having dealt with her own distractions and struggles, and encourages others to do the same as well. By and large this is a pleasing book that is easy to enjoy and to recommend and that recognizes the variety of ways that people can create better.
November 14, 2019
Loved how this book put a new twist on a subject where thousands of books talk about. Provides tips and suggestions that are easily implemented and the side notes felt like a personal letter addressed to me. My fav section was designing my work week (p. 115). Starting a writing project, getting my social media calendar up to date, etc, etc, this section helped me break down my week to be more productive.
Nice and quick read!
Nice and quick read!
July 24, 2024
I was a bit apprehensive about the book in the beginning, but I followed along and took action when it asked me to. And it helped me get out of my productivity rut. By making me confront what exactly I was doing and by making me be more intentional with my time and evergy, I came out the other side with a better, healthier system that's working for me.
The author is clearly far more into organization than I am, so I was a bit more basic on some things. I did download an app and start tracking things and scheduling time for them, and that has kept me a lot more focused and less overwhelmed. Creating a schedule and logging my actual time has been the biggest help as well as focusing less on results.
I'd recommend for someone that is feeling a little stuck but is willing to do the work to figure out why and how to get out.
The author is clearly far more into organization than I am, so I was a bit more basic on some things. I did download an app and start tracking things and scheduling time for them, and that has kept me a lot more focused and less overwhelmed. Creating a schedule and logging my actual time has been the biggest help as well as focusing less on results.
I'd recommend for someone that is feeling a little stuck but is willing to do the work to figure out why and how to get out.
May 27, 2025
While this was helpful in a few ways, I wouldn’t really consider it life changing. Many of the strategies are not things I am unfamiliar with, but I did get motivated to create a schedule for myself. I am partially wondering if this is because me and the author seem to have very similar ways of growing up. I found out she did one of the same writing programs I did in high school, grew up close to where I did, and also was a farm kid.
I really wish I would’ve read this last summer because there was a truth in it I discovered this year the hard way. When you are procrastinating, sometimes it’s your subconscious telling you to stop working on something. The quotes at the beginning of chapters and research was also wonderful. Definitely added a few more books to my TBR.
I really wish I would’ve read this last summer because there was a truth in it I discovered this year the hard way. When you are procrastinating, sometimes it’s your subconscious telling you to stop working on something. The quotes at the beginning of chapters and research was also wonderful. Definitely added a few more books to my TBR.
December 24, 2021
A warm and supportive voice to help you get more organized and do more. Not all of Kwak's tips and systems will be for everyone, but the gentle, thoughtful approach will definitely get you motivated to do better.
Plus, there are a ton of funny cow references.
Plus, there are a ton of funny cow references.
February 26, 2020
My husband, a very picky, very genre-specific reader, picked up From Chaos to Creativity, read through it and loved it! A self-proclaimed dreamer, forgetter, and procrastinator, he finished it in two days, set up corrals, and organized the cows (chaos) of his life. He now checks his corraled chaos each morning on his phone's notes app, adding new tasks for the day and deleting jobs done. And he loves doing it! As his wife, I must say he still dreams and still forgets, but the procrastination has gone way down. Jessie Kwak's book has effected a change in my husband that I've been waiting for for years!
Jessie's easy-reading, humorous, and thought-provoking book is a must read for anyone wanting to let go of unwanted stress and instead focus on what is important in life.
Jessie's easy-reading, humorous, and thought-provoking book is a must read for anyone wanting to let go of unwanted stress and instead focus on what is important in life.
February 1, 2021
Recommended to me by a writing friend, this was a compact, concise productivity guide. The author gave many suggestions- perhaps too many-on organizational tools. Ultimately she recommended Evernote which I will look into.
What I enjoyed most was her no-nonsense approach to time management. She had a lot of good strategies for working at our peak times and eliminating distractions. These nuggets of wisdom were tempered by the advice to dream and play.
What I enjoyed most was her no-nonsense approach to time management. She had a lot of good strategies for working at our peak times and eliminating distractions. These nuggets of wisdom were tempered by the advice to dream and play.
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February 25, 2024Featured in The Transformative Power of 5 Creativity Books
From Chaos to Creativity is divided into four distinct parts: Planning, Working, Dreaming, and Testing. The book guides readers through a system for enhancing creativity, offering tools and exercises at the end of each section for practical application. I identified with these stages and felt validated! The significance of pursuing hobbies and relaxation as a productive endeavour stands out for me. From Chaos to Creativity advocates for the value of joy and relaxation in adult life, redefining productivity based on personal fulfillment rather than societal standards.
If you want regular creativity in your life, this is the book for you! It’s not just for the people who made it into a full time job. No matter how much time you are able to dedicate to creativity, the actual doing, the reason you need a system is to cut out the crap – the indecision, the lack of inspiration, the what-do-I-do-next. When I started collecting my ideas in one place, I started to spend more time doing.
Biggest Takeaways:
- The four-part division served as a solid framework that resonated deeply with my own creative process. This book has helped me become better organized and see the little things I do to support my creative endeavours.
- I love the emphasis on action over results. Progress, even incomplete, is better than stagnation. This philosophy aligns with Your Writing Matters.
- This was new and fun: The concept of having a “No list” to eliminate tasks that won’t be pursued!
- Setting a dedicated time to sort through the creative chaos and finding spots to collect ideas has changed how I pursue writing and reading. Thank you Jessie!
Check out the detailed review and author interview on my blog. :) Have you read this book?
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
From Chaos to Creativity is divided into four distinct parts: Planning, Working, Dreaming, and Testing. The book guides readers through a system for enhancing creativity, offering tools and exercises at the end of each section for practical application. I identified with these stages and felt validated! The significance of pursuing hobbies and relaxation as a productive endeavour stands out for me. From Chaos to Creativity advocates for the value of joy and relaxation in adult life, redefining productivity based on personal fulfillment rather than societal standards.
If you want regular creativity in your life, this is the book for you! It’s not just for the people who made it into a full time job. No matter how much time you are able to dedicate to creativity, the actual doing, the reason you need a system is to cut out the crap – the indecision, the lack of inspiration, the what-do-I-do-next. When I started collecting my ideas in one place, I started to spend more time doing.
Biggest Takeaways:
- The four-part division served as a solid framework that resonated deeply with my own creative process. This book has helped me become better organized and see the little things I do to support my creative endeavours.
- I love the emphasis on action over results. Progress, even incomplete, is better than stagnation. This philosophy aligns with Your Writing Matters.
- This was new and fun: The concept of having a “No list” to eliminate tasks that won’t be pursued!
- Setting a dedicated time to sort through the creative chaos and finding spots to collect ideas has changed how I pursue writing and reading. Thank you Jessie!
Check out the detailed review and author interview on my blog. :) Have you read this book?
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
December 29, 2019
This book is great. It has so many good tips and ideas about how to be productive generally, but also how to utilize these productivity skills to create art. It also has great tasks that help you take her advice and immediately take action on it. If you’re a creative person, you should read this book.
The only complaint I have is with the book itself—one that, I know as a professional writer, is more likely the fault of the publisher than the writer. This book has a ton of typos, and the text alignment is constantly out of wack. The first chapter mentions an index that isn’t there. The text itself is fantastic—I just wish that the book’s quality matched the writing.
The only complaint I have is with the book itself—one that, I know as a professional writer, is more likely the fault of the publisher than the writer. This book has a ton of typos, and the text alignment is constantly out of wack. The first chapter mentions an index that isn’t there. The text itself is fantastic—I just wish that the book’s quality matched the writing.
October 30, 2020
I was moved to buy this book after attending Jessie Kwak's workshop on productivity at the Willamette Writer's annual conference in August 2020. Jessie is calm, organized, and has an approachable manner. This book is down-to-earth with many tips and personal vignettes about Jessie's own organization systems. Some it the systems are more complex than I'm comfortable with, but the book is a good read with lots of helpful tips. And it's definitely geared toward creatives. If you're looking for a practical guide on how to not go crazy this may be it.
January 5, 2021
Fun and helpful book. Heard Jessica on The Creative Penn podcast and thought this might be something I need to kick off the new year. Some helpful bits on building a system that is suitable for the creative process.
Yes, I am a sucker for productivity books. I do confess.
But her running Chaos = Cows joke/theme was worth the price of admission.
Yes, I am a sucker for productivity books. I do confess.
But her running Chaos = Cows joke/theme was worth the price of admission.
July 12, 2019
I like everything this book is about. And while it did seem like reading extensive notes of videos and books about productivity and creativity I'd already watched or read, I did get some nice pointers along the way.
January 8, 2020
Wonderful if not a little intense book on making the most out of your time for creating. Not sure I will use it all but the author effectively creates alternative systems to make creating more possible. Definitely a good read for any artist trying to make the most of their time.
July 2, 2020
Jessie's organizational techniques seemed a little addled and over complicated to me. I'm old school (at age 70) -- I have my list of stuff to get done and each is labeled A, B, or C, or even trash. I address A stuff first. Works for me and has for 52 years.
September 21, 2021
Đọc xong Deep Work qua đọc cuốn hướng dẫn sử dụng các công cụ tiện ích Google Calender và cách lọc email. Bị shocked độ nông cạn. Tôi đang đọc cái gì thế này @.@ Mong đợi gì ở một tác giả fiction viết về productivity nhưng khăng khăng là về creativity system mà tải sách về hăm hở đọc chứ????
March 18, 2020
Really helpful and fun little book to get me into a better headspace about my art. All creative people should read this!
August 11, 2020
A fun little book full of insight and ideas, tips and tricks to help you focus on the work that matters. I wish I'd read this book sooner, it would have helped me through this ceaseless Covid summer.
August 19, 2020
Helpful! Lots of actionable things that have improved my life!
March 7, 2021
It’s a fun spin on GTD with cows!
February 24, 2024
I think this is just what I needed at this moment. Time to implement some of these babies (strategies).
February 11, 2020
I am, not unlike the author, a sucker for productivity books and have likewise been frustrated when their advice seems impossible to translate to my writing and painting. While a lot of the strategies in this book are similar to ones that I arrived at through my own trial and error (having been self-employed since 2012), reading it was still a great reminder to check in on those strategies and how to evaluate them as things change. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews